SOMETHING really impresses me every time I drive an Audi.

You expect quality from a premium brand but not all manufacturers in this category do it quite as well as Audi.

Pictured is the company’s Q8 SUV coupe. Audi introduced an updated range last autumn and the model shown is the Launch Edition 55 TFSI I sampled a few months back.

With quattro drive to all wheels, it had the turbocharged 3.0 V6 petrol engine producing 335bhp and mated to an eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission.

The limited-run model came in at £86,000. Its additional goodies such as heated rear seats and a head-up display added £10,500 to the price of an equivalent S Line entry version.

My first journey identified the Q8 to be a quiet and effortless cruiser with its occupants travelling in luxury. It has a spacious interior and rear headroom is not a problem despite the coupe aspect of the Q8’s styling.

The boot capacity of 605 litres should satisfy most requirements.

There is a high level of grip thanks to the quattro set-up and the 335bhp under the bonnet is claimed to take the Q8 from rest to 62mph in 5.6 seconds. The top speed is governed to 155mph.

With the Launch Edition running on 22inch wheels, the ride could be a little hard at times but it did not trouble me greatly.

The Audi Q8 is a big and powerful car which explains why my overall economy was around 25mpg.